By Rebecca
Ryan Zimmerman (aka Zimmersapien) loves baseball. He apparently also loves kazoos, berets and jazz.
The Zimm also spends his weekends dancing with Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. No word on if Zimmerman will be teaming up with Ron Burgundy and his “yazz” flute.
By Ben H. Rome
‘DSC_6325’
courtesy of ‘bhrome’
Tonight the Caps return to the Verizon Center for a preseason matchup with the visiting Boston Bruins. The Capitals, fresh off two road games versus Columbus and Nashville (both Washington wins), will be featuring a trimmed-down roster of 33 players. Tonight’s roster will most likely include center Matt Hendricks, who was signed to a one-year two-way contract yesterday. Hendricks scored a hat trick in last week’s game against Columbus.
Line combinations for the new season aren’t fully set as roughly 14 forward slots have yet to be filled. Rookie Marcus Johansson has been solid in his last two preseason starts, as has last year’s draft selection Cody Eakin. Coach Bruce Boudreau is liking the talent depth at center this year, something the Caps weren’t all that strong in last year. “Weve got a lot of capable guys,” he said yesterday. “There are a lot of guys who are capable of playing that position…It’s going to be really tough for us to make a final determination because they’re all good.”
Tickets for tonight’s game are still available and the Caps announced that their Student Rush plan is in effect for this evening – $40 for lower tier and $20 for upper tier seats when students bring their ID to the Verizon Center box office.
The Caps regular season begins October 8 in Atlanta.
By Ben H. Rome
‘Verizon Center ice’
courtesy of ‘afagen’
Tired of Haynesworth and the Redskins already? Want to watch a winning team for once? Well, soon enough you’ll have your chance. Only 46 days until the Washington Capitals open up the 2010-11 campaign in Atlanta!
Single game tickets go on sale on Friday, Sept 10 at 10 a.m. at the Verizon Center, Kettler Capitals Iceplex, online, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. (You can get multi-game packages now.) The first home game of the season is on Saturday, Oct 9 against the New Jersey Devils (who may be with or without Ilya Kovalchuk), where the 2009-10 President’s Trophy will be displayed and Southeast Division championship banner will be raised.
Other nights of note are Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Oct 23 (vs. the Thrashers), Military Night on Mar 3 (vs. the Blues), and Niklas Backstrom Bobblehead Night on Apr 2 (vs. the Sabres).
Other dates to note – rookie camp opens on Sept 11, training camp a week later on Sept 18, and the second annual Capitals Convention on Oct 2. And of course, the 2011 Winter Classic on Jan 1.
By Ben H. Rome
‘First fight’
courtesy of ‘Hjelle’
The Caps pulled off a quiet trade yesterday afternoon, acquiring winger D.J. King from the St. Louis Blues and parting with prospect Stefan Della Rovere in the process. King’s a big winger at 6’3″ and 230 lbs and racked up 185 penalty minutes over 101 games with the Blues. A prolific goal scorer he is not (only 4 goals and 9 points in his NHL career), but brings some heft and grit to the Cap’s forward lines – provided he remains healthy. He only played in 13 games the last two seasons due to injuries (dislocated shoulder, broken finger). King remains under contract through the 2011-12 season.
The Blues get Della Rovere, who spent most of his last four seasons playing in the Ontario Hockey League where he racked up 65 goals and 138 points across 230 games.
Welcome to the Capitals, DJ!
By Ben H. Rome
‘20100202 Boychuk and Fleischmann’
courtesy of ‘Dan4th’
Late last evening, the Caps announced they have re-signed forward Tomas Fleischmann for the 2010-11 season. The one year contract is worth $2.6 million. The signing removes one more Cap from arbitration and firms up the team’s offense. “Flash” set all sorts of career highs last season, netting the most goals (23), assists (28), points (51), and plus/minus (+9) in his five-year NHL career.
Acquired by the Caps in 2004 in a trade with Detroit, Flash has clocked 260 games with the Caps and racked up 128 points, improving his offensive numbers every year. Last season, 10 of his 23 goals came in the first period and he was one of the standout forwards to step up during the ten games Alex Ovechkin was absent from the lineup. He also represented the Czech Republic in the most recent Olympics and was a key player in the Hershey Bears’ 2006 Calder Cup championship.
By Ben H. Rome
‘Caps/Habs (April 15, 2010) – 20’
courtesy of ‘Garyisajoke’
Fresh off a career high season, Eric Fehr has extended his stay with the Caps after signing off on a two-year deal worth $4.4 million yesterday afternoon. Fehr had 21 goals and 39 points in 69 games with the Caps last season, even though he averaged less than 13 minutes of ice time a game. Out of all the 20+ goal scorers in the NHL, Fehr had the lowest on-ice average.
Plagued with injuries during the early portion of his career – he was the Caps’ first-rounder in the 2003 Entry Draft – Fehr finally came into his own last season, shrugging off surgery on both shoulders and a major back injury. Having been an offensive force despite the low ice time, his return to the Caps offense should elicit a great sigh of relief for the Rock the Red nation. Fehr had a solid playoff performance last year, with 3 goals and 4 points in the seven game series with Montreal.
By Ben H. Rome
‘090127 Jeff Schultz’
courtesy of ‘Dan4th’
The Caps announced today they’ve signed defenseman Jeff Schultz to a four-year deal worth $11 million. Keeping Schultz with the club was important for the team’s blue line; Schultz had recently filed for arbitration along with Tomas Fleischmann and Eric Fehr.
Schultz skated in 73 games last season and led the NHL with an eye-popping +50 rating, a team record for a single season and the first d-man in the NHL to lead in plus/minus since 2005-6. He also racked up a career-high 20 assists on 23 points and averaged just under 20 minutes of ice time a game. “I’m not going to be one of those guys who rushes the puck from end-to-end,” Schultz admitted to Caps writer Mike Vogel. “It’s my job to get it up to the forwards as quick as possible and get it out of our zone with as much ease as possible. If I can make a simple play instead of forcing it, it helps myself and it helps the team.”
The signing is the third by the Caps since July 1, the start of the NHL’s Free Agent signing period. The team signed veteran AHL goalie Dany Sabourin on Saturday and yesterday closed a one-year deal with forward Boyd Gordon. Gordon, the Caps 2002 Entry Draft first-round choice, has played 303 games for the team and recorded 24 goals and 76 points during his Caps career. Last year, Gordon spent a good portion of the season on the injury list, playing in only 36 games and registering 4 goals and 10 points.
By Ben H. Rome
Dear Ted, George, Bruce, and Alex:
I know right now you’re dealing with a lot of crap from pretty much every corner because of Wednesday’s loss. So I just wanted to toss in two words you may not have heard much over the last 48 hours:
Thank you.
Those two words are pretty well drowned out right now, given that in true DC fashion, everyone’s getting busy on offering their opinions on what went wrong and what you guys need to do to fix things. And don’t misunderstand me – I have my opinions on the matter as well, but now’s not really the time to list them. I really just wanted to take a moment during all of the hubbub and let you know how I feel as things settle down. They’re simple words, but they need said.
THANK. YOU. Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
‘Washington Capitals Defenseman Mike Green’
courtesy of ‘marc.benton’
Congrats to Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green being named a finalist for the NHL’s Norris Trophy, awarded to the league’s top defenseman. Green was named one of three finalists on Friday, alongside Drew Doughty (LA Kings) and Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks).
Green was a finalist last year and a runner-up to Boston’s Zdeno Chara. Green led all defensemen during the regular season in goals (29), points (76), assists (57), and power-play goals (10). He faces some tough competition for the Norris with Keith and Doughty; the winner will be announced on June 23 during the NHL’s awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Cheer on Green and the Caps tonight as they attempt once again to close out their first round playoff series in Montreal versus the Canadiens.
By Dave Levy
‘Canadian Embassy’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’
The fan base of the Montreal Canadiens, the opening round foe for our beloved Capitals, has gained a little infamy in recent playoff memory: a vocal minority has been heard at games hosted in the Bell Centre booing the Star Spangled Banner when played before the puck drops.
There are two options here now that the series has returned to D.C. with the Caps just one win away from the next round. Some misguided folks may think it’s appropriate to mirror the response during the Canadian national anthem. However, this wouldn’t exactly be a great mark on the District, and a completely childish way to act. Please note that the better option is a heck of a lot classier, and Russian Machine Never Breaks is hopeful that we’ll get it right:
I have a feeling the Caps fans in attendance on Friday will do the right thing. They might even follow the example of the much-loathed Boston Bruins fans, who faced the exact same situation a few years ago.
Behold:
So go this evening and Rock the Red. Cheer the Caps to a series win as loud as you can. Just remember that your friends here at We Love DC ask that you do so with class, especially during “O, Canada.”
By Ben H. Rome
‘Alex Ovechkin’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’
Nobody said it would be easy.
The Montreal Canadiens did what they set out to do last night in a capacity-filled Verizon Center – steal a win in the Washington Capitals home building. Oh, and they shut down some guy named Ovechkin, too.
Tomas Plekanec silenced the crowd just over 13 minutes into the first overtime, corralling a bobbling puck and sending it end-for-end over Caps goalie Jose Theodore’s left shoulder. “We were screwing around with [the puck] instead of taking it back and setting it up and coming out,” said Coach Bruce Boudreau after the game. “They came up and our defense was caught in transition so they backed up so Plekanec got a chance to walk into the top of the circle and he had a perfect shot.”
‘IMG_9124’
courtesy of ‘jessie.whittle’
Caps fans rejoice! If you’re wearing red today, The Cereal Bowl in Cleveland Park will give you 10% off your order.
So get excited! Wear red! And … go Caps!
The Capitals face the Monteral Canadiens tonight, 7 p.m. at the Verizon Center.
By Ben H. Rome
‘DSC_6053’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’
Matt Bradley scored his first goal in over two months midway through the third period last night, giving the Washington Capitals the victory over the Atlanta Thrashers with a final score of 2-1. The win also puts an end to a three game slide as the Caps enter the final stretch of regular season play. Atlanta’s loss puts them just a little more behind in the scramble for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
The game was a refreshing change of pace for the Caps, who have been outscored 9-1 in the first periods of their recent skid. Last night, Nicklas Backstrom tipped in a Mike Green slap shot from the point in the last minute of the first, giving the Caps the lead going into the first intermission. Backstrom’s goal was his 30th on the season; his previous career high was 22, just last season.
Caps goalie Semyon Varlamov made 19 saves against the anemic Atlanta offense in his first win since March 4. The Caps’ next contest is an away game in Columbus on Saturday at 7 p.m.
By Dave Levy
‘DSC_4085’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’
“FANS: As you leave the arena, please be considerate of our neighbors and use your horn only as a necessity. Thank You.”
The Capitals are having an immensely successful season, and as Ben noted earlier this morning, the squad just locked up their third straight division championship. Much of the success has been at home; until a shootout loss earlier this week, the Caps had enjoyed a double-digit win streak on home ice. The hometown crowd has certainly been enthusiastic in the Phone Booth, but some neighbors are now asking that the raucousness stay inside.
WTOP.com reported that the sound of constantly honking cars after Caps wins at the Verizon Center have moved nearby parking facilities to ask fans leaving to not lay on the horn so much to celebrate. The above warning can now be seen on signs in the garage under the facility, and we’ll see how well it works come late-April now that the men in red are about to set off on another playoff campaign.
By Ben H. Rome
‘DSC_5748’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’
They didn’t even play last night and still the Caps keep winning. With Atlanta losing to Columbus 2-1 last night, the Washington Capitals clinched as Souheast Division champions for the third year in a row. This is a guaranteed Top 3 playoff seed slot and pretty much a no-brainer. I mean, who didn’t see this coming since November?
Congrats to owner Ted Leonsis, GM George McPhee, Coach Bruce Boudreau and the entire Capitals organization for their success so far this season.
By Rebecca
‘DSC_4085’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’
It’s been a busy and eventful last two weeks in the Washington DC sports world. The Caps are ON FIRE!!! The Wizards might be getting there. And we’ve had some solid developments for those out-of-season teams, some expected, some not so much.
Capitals
Record: 37-12
Last Two Weeks: 7-0
Place:1st in the Eastern Conference
With yesterday’s win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Capitals are on a 10 game wining streak tying their 1984 franchise record.
Defender Mike Green will be out for the next two games for an elbow to the head of Michael Frolik during Friday night’s game. Green’s absence yesterday was a huge disadvantage for Washington, as Green is the league’s leading defensive scorer. However, with Ovechkin’s third period goal, they managed to pull out the victory.
Over the next two weeks, the Caps are out of town quite a bit, traveling to Boston, Ottawa and Atlanta. Look for a solid match against the Penguins at the Verizon Center on February 7th.
By Ben H. Rome
‘Caps WIN!’
courtesy of ‘afagen’
Going into last night’s game, the Capitals knew they were going to be tested. This week, the Caps face both Stanley Cup finalists from the last two seasons and Coach Bruce Boudreau knew it was going to be an examination of sorts for the team. Coming off a 5-3 win against the Flyers on Sunday and winning four of their last five, the Caps were looking to impress. (And possibly get Ovechkin his 250th career goal.)
They did, but not in any way you’d think.
While the Capitals did skate out with a 3-2 win over an injury-ridden Detroit team, the Caps weren’t performing at their finest. Detroit controlled most of the game, dominating in the offensive zone and sewing up their defense around Osgood. The Caps started the game extremely weak, with only 3 shots on goal in the first period. The Caps forwards came on in spurts, but couldn’t sustain any consistant pressure against Osgood. Despite some stellar play by Jason Chimera early in the first to give Nicklas Backstrom a couple of shining opportunities to score, the Wings just dictated the pace of the game. Jose Theodore decided to have a good night, however, and kept the Caps even with the Wings through the first two periods, handling several breakaways with skill.
Then came the third period. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘DSC_4912’
courtesy of ‘photopete’
Congratulations to Alex Ovechkin who will put on the Team Captain’s “C” tonight against the Canadiens at the Phone Booth. It’s not immediately clear who will wear the A of the Alternate Captain now that Ovie has given his up, but Knuble and Poti will keep theirs.
By Ben H. Rome
‘Center Ice’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’
We’re just passed the halfway point of the 2009-10 hockey campaign for the Washington Capitals. Successful? In many ways, absolutely. Joining me on the breakdown is Adam Proteau, writer and columnist for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com, who kindly offered up some of his own analysis of the Caps season so far.
Overall, impressive. The Caps have hit 50 points faster than any other incarnation of the team before and are definitely on pace – barring a complete and total Jagr-esque breakdown – to end in one of the top four playoff seeds.
“They’re looking like a complete, versatile, dynamic team very early on in the year,” says Adam. “I thought it would take them longer into the season to fully assimilate Seymon Varlamov and some new veterans and function as an effective unit of a championship caliber, but I think they’re there already.”
By Tom Bridge
‘_MG_5524’
courtesy of ‘dbking’
Redskins
Record: 4-12
Last Two Weeks: 0-3
Place: Last in the NFC East
Well, this is one season no one will want to revisit anytime soon. This morning, Jim Zorn was fired (my only surprise was that he rode their plane home), after the Skins put up their worst record since they went 3-13 in the 1994 season. Zorn finishes his tenure with the Redskins at a tremendous 12 and 20 (.375), or, just where Steve Spurrier finished in 2003. He is the sixth coach of the Skins to be fired since Dan Snyder bought the team in 1999, none of whom have an over-.500 record.
There’s little to celebrate at the end of the season. Jason Campbell still isn’t the Quarterback-leader the Skins are hoping for. Chris Cooley is on the mend, this is true, and he’ll be a bright light for 2010/2011, but there’s a lot of rebuilding left t go.
But if the Skins were to do one thing this off-season to engender trust from their fans? Take Dan Snyder away from the reigns of the team. Entirely. Hire Shanahan and then take two years away from the team, Danny boy, and maybe then you’ll be alright. Continue reading
By